Job Posting Title:

Senior Product Design and Development Manager - Food

Req ID:

10108238

Job Description:

About The Role

Join Disney as a Senior Product Design and Development Manager, where you'll be at the heart of creating magic through innovative and brand-consistent products. You'll discover new product opportunities, craft enchanting designs, and present your ideas to partners with the same storytelling prowess that Disney is known for. By building strong relationships with retailers, stakeholders, and global teams, you'll lead and inspire a diverse team to bring Disney's beloved characters and stories to life. Your role will encompass managing product pitches, overseeing the approval process, and ensuring every product meets Disney's high standards of creativity and excellence.

This role is full time, based out of our London office in Hammersmith, with 4 days a week in the office.

What You Will You Do

Develop and manage the creative output from licensees ensuring product innovation, brand consistency and compelling execution within a commercial contextIdentify new product opportunities, produce first class conceptual designs and pitch to prospective/existing partnersEstablish and maintain relationships with retailers, internal stakeholders/partners and global and international creative teamsManage and develop team, ensuring consistent and appropriate creative direction and feedback is given on all product submissionsLead & create product pitches and new product design visuals to support the Food+ business needs, including new business with the support of the team.Manage and execute where required, the approval process from initiation to production in a timely mannerEnsure all licensee product submissions are routed through Disney’s Online Product Approval system (OPA) as per global product integrity guidelinesEnsure licensees are provided appropriate creative assets for product development, developing new assets as required against the specific needs of the category and inputting into style guide needsManage creative relationships with internal and external partners, providing inspiration and ensuring product is brand appropriate and adheres to Disney guidelinesOffer creative input and trend direction to inspire licensees/retailers and help drive quality productRun ideation sessions with licensees/retailers to drive product innovationLead all design projects (e.g. product toolkits, product pitches, inspiration boards) within category, utilising internal and external resources as requiredEnsure all new and existing licensees/retailers are trained and kept up to date on the Disney brand, property portfolio, creative assets and approval systemsMaintain an advanced level of market knowledge for products that fall within your sub-categoryDetermine market trends, using them to drive creative strategy, identify new areas of business and establish design requirementsDevelop and maintain an expert knowledge of Disney’s characters, films, properties, heritage and creative assets in order to assist in their usage on consumer productsMaintain an expert knowledge of food & packaging trends, with a finger on the pulse of new innovations within the category.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Degree level education in Food Product Development or Graphic Design preferred with a significant experience and knowledge of the food industrySignificant experience in managerial rolesExperience in designing and developing food products that resonates with consumers both globally and locally across the worldExperience working with large-scale, global retailers and partners to bring product designs to market for a variety of different consumer targetPrevious experience managing and developing the performance of a team, essentialExperience within a consumer products commercialisation environmentProven experience of building effective relationships, leading and managing change and collaboration across departmentsAn ability to communicate a clear design brief and ensure deliverables meet all criteriaDeep understanding of licensing and experience working with multiple global and regional partnersAbility to inspire a team and lead them towards a common goalDemonstrated ability to lead a product design team in the creation of consumer-led items through the development cycleDemonstrated ability to capitalize on market trends and consumer zeitgeist to maximize value creation throughout the trend cycleDemonstrated ability to create, leverage and scale innovation in consumer productsAn ability to deliver against set deadlines and budgetsStrong presentation skills with the ability to effectively present design ideas to internal/external stakeholders at all levelsFluent English, essential; other European languages, beneficialStrong influencing skills with the ability to achieve buy-in at all levelsResilient and nimble in an ever changing landscapeForward thinking with the ability to take industry trends and translate them into something that drives growth for TWDCCultural sensitivity and an understanding of local markets across EMEA

The Perks

25 days annual leavePrivate medical insurance & dental careFree Park Entry: the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for freeDisney Discounts: entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketingExcellent parental and guardian leaveEmployee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, our new disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Job Posting Segment:

EMEA - Global Product

Job Posting Primary Business:

EMEA - Global Product

Primary Job Posting Category:

Product Design (Services)

Employment Type:

Full time

Primary City, State, Region, Postal Code:

London, United Kingdom

Alternate City, State, Region, Postal Code:

Date Posted:

2025-03-12